I tried a casting call here, and though a couple of results came out of it for the near future, most of the girls do not have the look I need - these girls need to look like fashion models, not Maxim chicks. I really need to go to Europe for this, lol, as the models on here that would be perfect seem to have the typical American mentality towards nudity.

I also tried craigslist, with similar results. Mind you, I have found some models that would be great for the project, but they have mostly been flakes who have disappeared after a few messages (better now than the day of the shoot, of course).

Someone had mentioned I should look for figure models in local schools - how do I go about this? Post a notice in the bulletin boards at colleges and universities around here? Contact someone at the school, like the professors?

Any other ideas? Street casting (for nudes)?

Agencies would likely charge me an arm and a leg, IF they have girls for this sort of thing. I swear I am on the verge of hitting strip clubs with a mini-portfolio and my sketchbook... My Mamiya is still in the shop (for the mirror locking up on its own), but other than that and a couple of accessories I need to buy for the shoots, I'm ready to go - except for the models.

I think I will just put this aside for the moment and book some fashion stuff for my book, I'm brimming with inspiration for that right now anyway, and have found some great models ("no nudes!") for that in my searching.

This place is full of them.
So are the other sites like OMP, Paid Models, Model Place, Glamour 1, BABE Warehouse, etc.
So are bars and yesterday a girl in a park asked me if I would pay her to shoot nude.
Was shooting another one at the time.

Aaron S wrote:Editorial rates for shoots aren't that expensive. Plus, it is easy to get a model for a test from an agency.

Sorry, I should have elaborated that this is for a personal project, my very first series of nudes. They will most likely be submitted to local galleries and a few choice mags, but don't have any real editorial intent behind them at this point.

Also, I hope to start testing with agencies soon, and be rid of the "Webmodel" (I am printing my promo mailers and portfolio this month) - but I don't think they do tests involving nudity, at least not with an unknown like myself?

EL PIC wrote:This place is full of them.
So are the other sites like OMP, Paid Models, Model Place, Glamour 1, BABE Warehouse, etc.
So are bars and yesterday a girl in a park asked me if I would pay her to shoot nude.
Was shooting another one at the time.

Also try art schools.
EL

This place may be full of them, but it is damn near impossible to find the time to go through all the local profiles on here, sine we can't filter the search for those willing to do nudes.

I cancelled OMP many months ago, it was useless to me. I haven't tried the others but I suspect I will have similar results. It has more to do with the "myspace model" mentality of the Web than the actual sites, I think.

I mentioned art schools - there are a couple down here - but what is the best approach for them?

EL PIC wrote:But Agree - Europe is better.
EL

Quite right. I've been saying for years that I should go live there, and once some family stuff here gets cleared out, I may pack up and go for a few years.

Sorry, I should have elaborated that this is for a personal project, my very first series of nudes. They will most likely be submitted to local galleries and a few choice mags, but don't have any real editorial intent behind them at this point.

Also, I hope to start testing with agencies soon, and be rid of the "Webmodel" (I am printing my promo mailers and portfolio this month) - but I don't think they do tests involving nudity, at least not with an unknown like myself?

In their terms, editorial rates would be anything that isn't advertising, this would just be a personal editorial.

And, it probably depends on the model, and the agency, you'd just have to call them, and probably show them some JPEGs.

In their terms, editorial rates would be anything that isn't advertising, this would just be a personal editorial.

And, it probably depends on the model, and the agency, you'd just have to call them, and probably show them some JPEGs.

Really? I'm so happy I'm about to finally start pushing my wares on the street-level, things are certainly more sensible there. I am off from the dreary Day Job this week, so will have some time to call around. Thanks for the info.

Right at the top of the list - try the local art schools, although their models tend to be average people, this could be an advantage if shooting something "different" for the galleries, after that I'd check to see what photography clubs are in your area, the RA Club here in Ottawa keeps a list of models for their members -

Edit - It gets a lot easier once you have a "book" of images to show - recently I was having a meeting with a prospective model over coffee in a local restaurant, and the waitress saw my portfolio and was interested - I never shot the "model" but I did shoot the waitress, and a couple of her co-workers are pending -

Glenn Worton wrote:Right at the top of the list - try the local art schools, although their models tend to be average people, this could be an advantage if shooting something "different" for the galleries, after that I'd check to see what photography clubs are in your area, the RA Club here in Ottawa keeps a list of models for their members -

Camera clubs? Never even thought of that one as I never belonged to one. Thanks!

Edit (in response to yours): Yes, I know - it's almost like starting all over again! My first model was pretty but very inexperienced, still, we pulled off something good and I was able to get my second model, who had SOME experience, and so on...

street casting for nudes is a talent in itself. one fact with nudes is you need a pretty body , there are alot of great models that are not so great nude. try doing intimate couples photos from street casting first. some of them will pose nude. just dont go into shoots with any expectations , think frame by frame. im constantly amazed how many people off the street will pose nude.

darkfotoart wrote:street casting for nudes is a talent in itself. one fact with nudes is you need a pretty body , there are alot of great models that are not so great nude. try doing intimate couples photos from street casting first. some of them will pose nude. just dont go into shoots with any expectations , think frame by frame. im constantly amazed how many people off the street will pose nude.

Excellent point in regards to some models not making for good nude subjects. That's why I thought of the strip clubs

Photos of couples would be a great exercise, I imagine, and may yield some good stuff, but I honestly don't have the time for it - besides the day job and daily life, my time needs to go into marketing myself right now. The nudes are a side project, but I expect to only be shooting that once or twice a month. Maybe I'm just too impatient, but I need immediate results. Street casting - couple of singles - could go either way, so although I am thinking about it (I have a thread on it bookmarked for reading), I would probably use it as a last resort.

I have had surprisingly good luck with nudes via My Space. Sure, most are not really models, but some see my work, understand I do nudes, and are flattered I want them to pose nude. After they get over the flattery, they then realize "why not ME?" and they pose nude too.

For posing, besides the net I've gotten some work from the local art schools. As a shooter, I once had a photog I posed for ask me to reffer a model in my photographer's profile to them. I sent her the info, and they worked together from there. So, I'd say hit up any photographers in your area who have shot modesl you'd like to shoot. If they contact them first, and reffer your info to them, you may have better luck.....

Really? I'm so happy I'm about to finally start pushing my wares on the street-level, things are certainly more sensible there. I am off from the dreary Day Job this week, so will have some time to call around. Thanks for the info.

Yes really. We were able to pretty easily get models from Storm, and Elite.

BC Helm wrote:I have had surprisingly good luck with nudes via My Space. Sure, most are not really models, but some see my work, understand I do nudes, and are flattered I want them to pose nude. After they get over the flattery, they then realize "why not ME?" and they pose nude too.

Interesting. I flat-out refuse to join Myspace, though, and I don't have any nudes in my portfolio yet, so I can just imagine what they would think anyway. I'm really trying to get OFF the Web for this, though - I had lost my disdain for the so-called "Web model" after having worked with so many great models from here (most, incidentally, have done street-level editorial and advertising) for my fashion stuff, but the flakes have come out yet again while in search of nudes.

luv2bfitt wrote:For posing, besides the net I've gotten some work from the local art schools. As a shooter, I once had a photog I posed for ask me to reffer a model in my photographer's profile to them. I sent her the info, and they worked together from there. So, I'd say hit up any photographers in your area who have shot modesl you'd like to shoot. If they contact them first, and reffer your info to them, you may have better luck.....

I can try that, too, thanks.

Aaron S wrote:

Yes really. We were able to pretty easily get models from Storm, and Elite.

Cool deal. I'll see what happens with this. I won't get into anything serious until I have my Mamiya back, and I'm actually ready to shoot, but I'll poke around and see what I can dig up.

if you want more trouble than your dollar will get you...go ahead and do the strip club route. You've not said what rate you've been paying. I'm on OMP and here and have never had a problem finding a good model to do tasteful nudes. If you're trying to shoot Playboy stuff and just want to practice...try asking a girlfriend. Most models I know have their limits and unless you're a well established photographer with an awesome portfolio, a lot of ladies think you're just wanting to get them naked for personal enjoyment. Another thing you might try is doing some searches on some swingers sites. Many of these wives are hot and completely comfortable with their bodies and may even model for TFP if you give them some great images. Good luck.

id start with the local art schools. if you talk to the figure drawing professor and explain that youre a local art photographer and looking to do some work with some nude figures they can pass the information along to their models. they might even give you the contact information.

Dancers (legit dancers, not strip club "dancers"), actors/actresses, artists, musicians, bodybuilders and fitness fanatics just to name a few that I've had good luck with. You will also be surprised at how many of your friends will pose nude for you. Women are easier to get to model for you than men.

FlirtynFun Photography wrote:if you want more trouble than your dollar will get you...go ahead and do the strip club route. You've not said what rate you've been paying. I'm on OMP and here and have never had a problem finding a good model to do tasteful nudes. If you're trying to shoot Playboy stuff and just want to practice...try asking a girlfriend. Most models I know have their limits and unless you're a well established photographer with an awesome portfolio, a lot of ladies think you're just wanting to get them naked for personal enjoyment. Another thing you might try is doing some searches on some swingers sites. Many of these wives are hot and completely comfortable with their bodies and may even model for TFP if you give them some great images. Good luck.

I'm not seriously considering the strip clubs, though at this point they might seem a viable alternative, lol. Too many wackos in there (I've dated a few). Not interested in the Playboy stuff, never thought much of it, to be honest. Swingers? Even crazier than strippers, I would imagine. The typical "wife" will not be fit for this project anyway.

I thank you for the ideas, but my ideal models would be as follows: 5'10" and 125lbs - some leeway on those standards, of course. She could be 5'5" and 110 lbs but leggy-looking. Faces and hair that would not look out of place in a beauty ad or a Vogue editorial. The concept of the images in this series? Think classic fashion from the '80s and '90s - but without the clothes. Sexy but not so glamour-esque. Most models other than fashion-types won't understand, it seems. I think that's part of the problem.

studio kgm inc wrote:id start with the local art schools. if you talk to the figure drawing professor and explain that youre a local art photographer and looking to do some work with some nude figures they can pass the information along to their models. they might even give you the contact information.

Thanks! This is some of the info that I needed to get. Although, as described above, I'm not doing the "figure" stuff - but I have a sketchbook to help me along.

DHayes Photography wrote:Dancers (legit dancers, not strip club "dancers"), actors/actresses, artists, musicians, bodybuilders and fitness fanatics just to name a few that I've had good luck with. You will also be surprised at how many of your friends will pose nude for you. Women are easier to get to model for you than men.

Doug

I might try local dancers and actresses, though the latter may feel that nude images could hurt their careers later (yeah, right - not these days). Bodybuilders don't usually look like what I'm seeking, though there is one on here that I may be shooting. My friends? Yikes, I don't think so, lol. I have a couple of model friends, but they've already made clear that they are not interested in this type of shoot.

Go to a nightclub with a portfolio of decent boudiour photos, and see who gravitates to your camera the most. I have found a lot of women throwing themselves on me half naked at the nightclub. They can usually be convinced pretty easily to look sexy (and naked) for the camera if given the right treatment. Remember, everyone likes to have their picture taken, and if you go to a nightclub (especially if you can get VIP) you will definitely be able to tell which girls will take their clothes off because they will stick their asses or boobs in your face.

I'm thinking this will get me to know the local police alot better than I need to, lol, but I could give it a shot. Maybe next time I go to Hooters, or a fine restaurant with a knockout for a hostess.

Do I look good? Errr... Hopefully they'll settle for a good-looking business card instead

Hooters and bars like that are not great places since they get picked up so.
You'd be surprised what women will do if u only ask em.
Yea u might get a thanks I needed that slap 1 in a hundred tries
but you wont have encounters w police - unless u pick up undercover hookers.

Webspinner wrote:Go to a nightclub with a portfolio of decent boudiour photos, and see who gravitates to your camera the most. I have found a lot of women throwing themselves on me half naked at the nightclub. They can usually be convinced pretty easily to look sexy (and naked) for the camera if given the right treatment. Remember, everyone likes to have their picture taken, and if you go to a nightclub (especially if you can get VIP) you will definitely be able to tell which girls will take their clothes off because they will stick their asses or boobs in your face.

Interesting idea, though I think this will get me laid more than get me models to photograph, LOL. Maybe that's just Miami clubs. Anyway, I don't have a portfolio of boudoir photos, only the fashion work you see here and on my site.

I can probably get a female buddy of mine, who poses nude all the time, to pose just so I can show a sample to people. She's very pretty but not really the body type I have in mind. I'm sure we could make some nice stuff, though.

Not wanting to sound like jerk, but try your neighbors, friends, etc.
I have photographed most of my neighbors and friends nude. It's a good place to start. Friends of your wife (sig. other) , or friends of the family. Heck, if you can't ask someone you know to model nude for you, how do you expect stragers to model nude for you.
My 2 cents

Daniel Norton wrote:Try Deco models on sobe, they are pretty open minded.
-Daniel

Thanks for the tip. I'll look them up.

nathan combs wrote:i have had VERY good luck at a coffee shop most of the nudes i have photoed i got the people from there i just walk up to them and ask

EL PIC wrote:

Hooters and bars like that are not great places since they get picked up so.
You'd be surprised what women will do if u only ask em.
Yea u might get a thanks I needed that slap 1 in a hundred tries
but you wont have encounters w police - unless u pick up undercover hookers.

EL

OK, I so I guess this does work. I know Bob Carlos Calrke would do this alot, though he said he didn't mention the nudity at first. But then, he was Bob Carlos Clarke - and in Europe. But so many of you are telling me this works, I'll have to give it a shot as well.

As for the hookers, I would go to South Beach for this sort of thing - lots and lots of pretty girls there. But it would be very hard to tell the hookers from the clubhoppers on a Saturday night, they're kinda dressed the same

Go clubbing, with business cards. Take a bunch of models with you, and make sure they spend the night giving you attention. You'll find that you attract a lot of women, and they'll ask the models who you are. Have the models tell them that you're a photographer, and make sure they have your card.

Your card should hava your web site on it and the site should be impressive enough to show that you're not some random pervert with a camera. Have the kind of photography you want to do on the site so there's no confusion.

Treat the models you work with like gold. Respect them, be funny and personable, and generous when you can. Over time, you'll make a name for yourself and people might recognize you when you go out. Indeed, and I kid you not, you will find boyfriends and husbands who are familiar with your work introduce you to their girlfriends and wives in hopes that you'll shoot them.

I'm a complete nobody and I live in Seattle and this works. You live in Florida, where I expect this would work an order of magnitude better.

Shadowscape Studio wrote:Not wanting to sound like jerk, but try your neighbors, friends, etc.
I have photographed most of my neighbors and friends nude. It's a good place to start. Friends of your wife (sig. other) , or friends of the family. Heck, if you can't ask someone you know to model nude for you, how do you expect stragers to model nude for you.
My 2 cents

Well, I mentioned before most of my friends are unsuitable for this, unfortunately. I also don't have an SO right now, I became tired of the non-English speaking illegals in Miami, looking for a U.S. citizen sucker to marry, and I've become a little antisocial lately - but that is way, way beyond the scope of this post.

I'm not sure of the connection between asking friends and asking strangers to model for me, unless you mean in reference to street casting. The strangers I would be asking are judging me by different criteria - my work - since ordinarily they are part of the industy, or trying to get into it, as well.

Shandra wrote:meetup.com

In most of the larger cities there are figure drawing meet-ups, figure study meet-ups...whatever.

BTW - Did you know that nerdy women in bookstores
and laundermats love when they get hit on and are most pervise !!

EL

Dr. Sketchy?

And yes, I know about the nerdy girls, but I am not trying to hit on them in this case Actually, this brings up a thought I had while reading a thread on street casting - won't a man moment interfere with this? I mean, I have the attention of this beautiful girl, why on earth would I start talking about photography? LOL I'd have to remind myself of my original purpose. I'd hate to lose a potential great subject by hitting on her, but then, I'd hate to lose a potential great date by boring her with photography...